Mike Spring
Recap
Review
What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 21st, 2025
Is it a small week, or was this reviewer laid up sick for a week and unable to retrieve review copies from his mailbox? I’ll let you decide! (Spoiler: it was the latter.) Even though this is not a complete list of what’s available this week, there are still a good number of notable releases that are worth checking out. Plus, we have a first for the “pop culture” side of the column: bubble gum! Read on for all the details!
In This Week’s Column:
- In The Mouth of Madness (4K Ultra HD)
- Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors: The Heroic Cinema of Chang Cheh (Blu-ray Box Set)
- Bridge Planet Nine (Graphic Novel)
- Winging It (Graphic Novel)
- Diary of a Nature Nerd (Graphic Novel)
- Bubblegum Kids Products (Gum & Candy)
In The Mouth of Madness (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
Do You Read Sutter Cane?
He chilled our blood with The Thing. Brought us face to face with the devil himself in Prince of Darkness. Now master of horror John Carpenter drives us out of our minds with In the Mouth of Madness, the final entry in his “Apocalypse Trilogy.”
Horror author Sutter Cane is missing. As crowds turn violent waiting for copies of his latest book, Cane’s publishers enlist insurance investigator John Trent to find him. With Cane’s editor, Linda Styles, Trent sets off in search of the elusive author and finds himself trapped in Hobb’s End, a town that should only exist within the author’s books. As fiction and reality blur, Trent begins to realize that between the lines, beyond the page, somewhere out there in the dark, something evil is waiting to break through. Starring Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Julie Carmen (Fright Night Part 2), and Jürgen Prochnow (Das Boot), with a supporting cast that features Charlton Heston (The Omega Man), David Warner (Time Bandits), and John Glover (Gremlins 2), plus sterling special effects from KNB EFX, In the Mouth of Madness makes its debut appearance in glorious 4K Ultra HD, looking deeper, richer, and stranger than ever!
The Movie:
John Carpenter had an interesting career as a filmmaker. After striking it huge with Halloween, he delivered several movies that are considered seminal classics in the genre cinema pantheon (The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From New York), but box office success largely eluded him.
Even in terms of his own filmography, In the Mouth of Madness is one of the director’s more underappreciated horror gems. Sam Neill shines as an insurance man hired to track down a missing horror writer whose worlds are beginning to come to life. The film starts off more as a mystery than anything else but slowly morphs into a horror film that is filled with chilling moments and indelible imagery.
The film is inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, of whom I’ve never been a fan, but luckily it has its own identity as well. It’s one of those movies that truly is “inspired by” – meaning drawing inspiration from – not “inspired by” meaning “we’re just going to completely rip off this other thing.” It’s chock full of Carpenter’s signature moments, and Sam Neill gives a truly great performance. Honestly, it’s Neill that anchors the film, and his performance combined with Carpenter’s directorial sensibilities make for a thrilling ride.
Arrow Video has released In the Mouth of Madness as one of their impeccable limited 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Editions, which means it comes in oversized packaging that includes some physical extras in addition to copious video extras. Arrow is second to none when it comes to giving cult classics the treatment that they deserve, and this release is no different.
The 4K Video/Audio:
As with most John Carpenter movies, In the Mouth of Madness wasn’t a big-budget affair, so the film isn’t going to look like a Marvel movie, but I was quite impressed by the A/V work here. Image clarity is quite nice and there are some very fine details on close-up shots. Color saturation is occasionally heavily affected as part of the. Production, but the more natural shots look extremely bright and vivid. The print is clear with nary a blemish or speck of dirt to be found. The surround soundtrack also offers up an impressive amount of directionality and panning effects, creating a much more immersive soundfield than I was expecting. All in all, it’s an outstanding effort for a low-budget affair that’s over 30 years old.
The Bonus Features:
- Archive audio commentary with director John Carpenter and producer Sandy King Carpenter
- Archive audio commentary with director John Carpenter and director of photography Gary B. Kibbe
- Brand new audio commentary by filmmakers Rebekah McKendry & Elric Kane, co-hosts of Colors of the Dark podcast
- Making Madness, a newly filmed interview with producer Sandy King Carpenter
- Do You Read Sutter Cane?, a newly filmed interview with actor Jürgen Prochnow
- The Whisperer of the Dark, an archive interview with actress Julie Carmen
- Greg Nicotero’s Things in the Basement, an archive interview with special effects artist Greg Nicotero
- We Are What He Writes, a new featurette in praise of John Carpenter and In the Mouth of Madness
- Reality Is Not What It Used to Be, a new appreciation by film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Horror’s Hallowed Grounds, an archive featurette looking at the locations used in the film
- Home Movies From Hobb’s End, behind-the-scenes footage
- The Making of In the Mouth of Madness, a vintage featurette
- Theatrical trailer and TV spots
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Francesco Francavilla
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Francesco Francavilla
- Perfect bound collector’s book featuring new writing on the film by Guy Adams, Josh Hurtado, Richard Kadrey, George Daniel Lea, Willow Catelyn Maclay, and Alexandra West
Digital Copy Included: No
Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors: The Heroic Cinema of Chang Cheh (Blu-ray Box Set)
Official Synopsis:
Distinguished by his penchant for bloodshed and a thematic concentration on the bonds of brotherhood and masculine sacrifice, Chang Cheh is one of the most prolific and accomplished directors ever to emerge from the Hong Kong film industry. Often hailed as the “Godfather of Hong Kong cinema,” he enjoyed a career spanning six decades and worked in a multitude of genres, from Chinese opera to kung fu films via wuxia pian, historical epics and tales of the supernatural.
Presented here are ten films that reveal the range and versatility of Chang’s career as a filmmaker. Traditional wuxia pian is represented by King Eagle, Trail of the Broken Blade and Wandering Swordsman; choreographed by Lau Kar-Leung, Men from the Monastery and Shaolin Martial Arts are both drawn from Chang’s Shaolin Cycle, included here alongside New Shaolin Boxers; Iron Bodyguard, released at the dawn of the kung fu era, is representative of changing trends in Hong Kong cinema; and some of Chang’s more esoteric work is represented by the opera film The Fantastic Magic Baby and the supernatural fantasy The Weird Man. Also included is the anthology film Trilogy of Swordsmanship, to which Chang contributed a segment alongside his contemporaries Yueh Feng and Cheng Kang.
All produced during Chang Cheh’s tenure at Shaw Brothers, these ten films are a testament to the director’s distinct aesthetic style and his recurring thematic preoccupations. Eureka Classics is proud to present this selection of Chang’s work for the first time on Blu-ray in the US. This set will now be strictly limited to a single pressing of 2000 copies and will not be reissued once sold out.
The Movie:
This is the third release from Eureka this year with a focus on the films of Chang Cheh, which is both a welcome addition to their catalogue and a great way to expose the director’s works to western audiences who are probably largely unfamiliar with his work. Cheh was one of the most prolific directors for the Shaw Brothers Studio, who famously churned out copious amounts of martial arts action flicks in the 1970s and ‘80s. This new collection (also from Eureka) collects not one, not two, but TEN more of the famed director’s films, moving through a range of genres and sensibilities.
So, first, let’s get the details out of the way. The movies included in this box set are: Trail of the Broken Blade (1967), Wandering Swordsman (1970), King Eagle (1971), Trilogy of Swordsmanship (1972), Iron Bodyguard (1973), Men from the Monastery (1974), Shaolin Martial Arts (1974), New Shaolin Boxers (1976), The Fantastic Magic Baby (1975), and The Weird Man (1983). Most, if not all, of them are making their Blu-ray debut outside of Asian countries.
Now, in any collection of this size, you’re going to have your hits and you’re going to have your misses. For me, Cheh’s later works, such as The Fantastic Magic Baby and The Weird Man are not the high points of his career. That said, in the early-to-mid seventies, Cheh was firing on all cylinders, and Wandering Swordsman, King Eagle, Iron Bodyguard, and Shaolin Martial Arts are all action-packed gems. I think one of my favorite films in the set is 1972’s Trilogy of Swordsmanship, which was actually an anthology film with three separate segments, one by Cheh, and two others by writer/directors Yueh Feng and Cheng Kang.
In typical Radiance fashion, this box set is compactly-packaged with bold new artwork and a nice collection of bonus features that comes in as enough to make it worth your while but not so much that it’s overwhelming. It’s a terrific collection for fans of the genre.
The Bonus Features:
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all films in this set by film critic and writer James Oliver
- New audio commentaries on each film by a selection of Hong Kong cinema experts including Frank Djeng, Mike Leeder, Arne Venema and David West
- New interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on the life and work of Chang Cheh
- New video essay by Jonathan Clements (author of A Brief History of China) on Iron Bodyguard
- New video essay by Jonathan Clements on Chang Cheh’s Shaolin films
Digital Copy Included: No
Bridge Planet Nine (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
A heist gone wrong. In this gritty, intimate sci-fi graphic novel, four down-and-out thieves touch down on an abandoned colony planet for an easy heist…until the masks come off.
Bridge Planet Nine, once a thriving outpost, is now deserted. Corporations have claimed what’s left of its natural resources for automated extraction, and even the freighter ships that refuel here are completely unmanned. Now one of those freighters…is about to be robbed.
The hijackers are a small, reluctant crew, each with their own reasons for being there. With no one around for millions of miles, they don’t expect interference. But the planet’s grim history and dark secrets will turn a simple job into a bloody fight for survival.
The Book:
So, everything I knew about Bridge Planet Nine before I read it was what’s in the synopsis above and the fact that I thought it had a really cool cover. I had never heard of Jared Throne, the writer/artist of the book before, although since it turns out that this is his first graphic novel, that makes sense. So even though I went into it with no knowledge at all, there was something about it – call it a vibe – that had me excited to read it.
And boy, did that pay off! Bridge Planet Nine is an exciting, emotional, action-packed heist story, but in a sci-fi setting. The set-up is pretty simple: four thieves, all with different motivations, set out to rob a transport ship on a deserted planet in the far reaches of the galaxy. But once they get to the planet, everything changes… and that’s all I want to say about the story. Because there are some neat twists and turns and I don’t want to spoil anything. But what Jared Throne does really well – in addition to giving us characters we actually care about and who feel realistic – is mix in some subtle social commentary as well. It’s just enough that if you’re not paying attention, it’ll float right by you, but if you’re picking up on the subtext of the story, it has a powerful message.
The book reads like an action movie; Throne’s artwork is both simplistic and detailed at the same time, but he has a great visual flair that works very well for the story. Honestly, this book has no right being as enjoyable as it is for a first-time creator; I can’t wait to see what he does next. I highly recommend you track down Bridge Planet Nine as soon as possible and dive right in; I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it and I doubt you’ll be able to, either.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 208 pages
- Cover Price: $19.99
Winging It (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
From the Eisner-nominated creators of instant bestsellers Allergic and Squished comes a charming and funny graphic novel about family, friendship, and self-discovery!
Twelve-year-old Luna never wanted to move from California to Virginia, even if it is near historic Washington, DC, and no matter how excited her dad is to introduce her to the area where her late mother grew up. And she definitely doesn’t want to live with a very formal grandmother she barely knows. But during a visit to the National Museum of Natural History, the rarely seen luna moth for which Luna was named sparks her curiosity. Using her mother’s old naturalist notebooks as a guide, Luna, who has always preferred the indoors, endeavors to see a real luna moth with her own eyes. Learning more about nature just might help her make a new friend, figure out how to feel at home in her new life, and understand the mother she never got the chance to know.
Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter have again teamed up to tell a charming and funny story of family, friendship, adventure, and appreciating all life has to offer.
The Book:
I am decidedly NOT in the target audience for Winging It, which is a new middle grade graphic novel from Scholastic/Graphix that is fairly gender neutral but I suspect is aimed more at girls. As I am not a 12-year-old girl, I always try to approach books that are not aimed as me from a more objective point of view; I can’t judge this book as a mumblety-mumble-year-old male, but can I at least appreciate it for what it is? That’s my approach.
So can someone please tell me exactly why Winging It had me in tears TWICE before I was done reading it?? Listen, a good story is a good story regardless of demographics, and Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter have crafted a masterpiece of young reader fiction. The story features some universal themes; young Luna has to move away from her friends thanks to her dad’s new job, she never got to know her deceased mom, and she’s struggling to connect with her aloof grandmother. But as she makes new friends and sets off on a journey to see a Luna Moth in nature, she becomes more confident, and her relationships grow and evolve.
It’s not that the story is some groundbreaking thing; it’s a coming of age story, plain and simple. But Lloyd’s sense of character and pacing combined with Nutter’s evocative but simple artwork just clicks, and the result was that I got sucked WAY more into this graphic novel about a 12-year-old girl chasing a moth than I ever expected to. It’s a beautiful story of family, loss, friendship, and finding oneself. Obviously, I would recommend Winging It to any middle-grade/younger readers, but adults out there, I’ll just say it: you’ll probably love this book, too.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Scholastic Graphix
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 272 pages
- Cover Price: $14.99
Diary of a Nature Nerd (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
Lace up your boots and join Brooke on the trail for this irresistible story about best friends, blended families, and big goals. Perfect for fans of PAWS and Katie the Catsitter!
Brooke’s always out on the trail, living a life full of adventure and documenting her wilderness findings in her nature diary. But Brooke is in for the biggest adventure of her life: her BFF, Jayla, is now her new stepsister! Brooke finally has someone to join her on the trail, and, together, they just might spot the one thing Brooke’s been aching to see most — a moose! Brooke and her blended family are settling into their new life nicely, but when Jayla announces that she and her dad spotted a moose on the trail while Brooke was back at camp, life in the family RV suddenly starts to feel crowded.
The Book:
I’m not sure if the timing of the release of Diary of a Nature Nerd and Winging It on the same week was intentional on the part of Scholastic/Graphix or not, but they do make for a nice one-two punch.
Diary of a Nature Nerd is aimed at slightly younger readers (it’s listed as ages 7-10 whereas Winging It is listed as ages 8-12), so it’s a slightly simpler reading experience, but that’s not meant to take anything away from it. This book also has a strong focus on family dynamics – although in this case, it’s a blended family – while also mixing in a lot of nature. In fact, some of the coolest pages in this book are literal pages from Brooke’s nature diary, where she catalogs all the plants and animals she’s seen. They’re visually appealing and educational, and I think they’ll be some younger readers’ favorite parts of the book.
This one didn’t resonate quite the same way for me as Winging It did, but that’s not because it’s a good book. I actually found Diary of a Nature Nerd very enjoyable; it’s just aimed at a slightly younger audience. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the artwork is fun and unique, so this will definitely go over well with any animal-loving youngsters in your house.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Scholastic Graphix
- Format: Softcover or Hardcover
- Page Count: 128 pages
- Cover Price: $12.99 (Softcover) or $22.99 (Hardcover)
Bubblegum Kids Products (Gum & Candy)
Official Synopsis:
Bubblegum Kids, the sugar-free gum reinventing the nostalgic bubblegum flavor we all grew up loving, has quickly become the collectible of candy—a pioneering force in licensed confectionery and novelty treats. Bubblegum Kids transforms beloved characters and iconic franchises into deliciously playful products that spark joy across generations. With over 50 partnerships signed and growing, the brand now offers a wide menu of collectible and crave-worthy items available at BubblegumKids.com, Amazon, and other locations.
The Product:
So, anyone who knows me in my personal life knows that I eat candy like it’s my job. I mean, I love candy like very few people in the world do. And while it is not actually my job to eat candy, I can say that I’m beyond excited that I finally get to eat candy as a PART OF my job! Whoo hoo!
Bubblegum Kids is a really exciting company that’s making gum and candy fun again. I interviewed the CEO of the company at New York ComicCon a couple of weeks ago (interview coming soon!) and he described Bubblegum Kids as “the Funko Pop of bubblegum,” which I couldn’t agree with more. They’ve teamed up with all sorts of licensed brands so not only do you get delicious gum and candy, but it comes packaged with your favorite characters on it. There are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob collabs, but there are also flavors inspired by equally loved but less merchandised characters like Popeye and The Berenstain Bears. Heck, even the ICEE polar bear gets in on the action! I love it!
Okay, but how is the gum? It’s sugar-free, so it must be awful, right? Well, that’s the best part; I’ve had the chance to sample several of the flavors, including Barry Scary Berry, Hannah’s Frozen Banana, and ICEE Cherry – as well as a SpongeBob Cake Frosting chocolate bar! – and they’re delicious! The gum doesn’t taste artificially sweetened, the flavor lasts a long time, and each pouch contains 55 chiclet-sized pieces of gum, which makes for a huge value. Honestly, I’m hooked; I love this stuff!
The Specs:
- Produced By: Bubblegum Kids
- Products Available:
Gum Pouches
- Original Blend
- Theo’s Wacky Watermelon
- Daisy Strawberry
- Barry Scary Berry
- Hannah’s Frozen Banana
- ICEE Blue Raspberry
- ICEE Cherry
- Frozeti the Yeti
- Slush Puppie
- Arthur Crunch Cereal
- Berenstain Bears Honey
- Care Bears Cheer Bears Cotton Candy
- Care Bears Funshine Bears Lemonade
- Care Bears Birthday Bears Cake Batter
- Care Bears True North Bears Maple Syrup
- Popeye Spinach
- Archies Milkshake
- Spooky Toasted Marshmallow
- SpongeBob Pineapple
- Chucky Peach
Freeze-Dry Candy
- SpongeBob Puffs
- Ninja Turtles Pizza Party
- Reptar Crunch
- Chucky Peach
Lollipops
- SpongeBob Set
- Ninja Turtles Set
- Rugrats Set
Chocolate Bars
- Garfield Dark Chocolate
- Fairly Odd Parents
- Berenstain Bears Caramel
- SpongeBob Chocolate Bar
